George Shannon's weblog

This is a review of The Lucubrator, by Rick Dague, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game:

Emily Short
Peter Nepstad (includes other reviews)
Michael Martin
Skeet (includes other reviews)
ralphmerridew (includes other reviews)
Another Mister Lizard (probably the best)
Jenni
Riff
Imahuman
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This is a review of Channel Surfing, by Mike Vollmer, a glulx game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game:

Emily Short, Victor Gijsbers, Gemma Bristow, Michael Martin, Skeet (includes other reviews), Another Mr. Lizard, Sarah Morayati, Stephen Bond, Imrihamun, Carl Muckenhoupt, Lucy, Dan Shiovitz (includes other reviews), and Christos Dimitrakakis (includes other reviews).

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This is a review of Piracy 2.0, by Sean Huxter, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game:

Emily Short, ralphmerridew (includes other reviews), Wesley Osam, Jenni, Riff, Lucy (includes other reviews), George Dorn, and Christos Dimitrakakis (includes other reviews).

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This is a review of Nightfall, by Eric Eve, a glulx game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are a bunch of other reviews about this game: Emily Short, J. Robinson Wheeler, Skeet (includes other reviews), Another Mr. Lizard, Sarah Morayati, Dan Shiovitz (includes other reviews), Jake Wildstrom (includes other reviews), and Christos Dimitrakakis.

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This is the first time I’ve done this, and I’m having fun.  I think I’m halfway, but it seems like I’m further.  I noticed that I review games like I’m giving a critique in my writing group, rather than for public consumption by themselves.  I dunno, I hope the authors read my stuff, and find it useful.  The internet typically sucks for feedback.

Sometimes the IF Comp seems like a NaNoWriMo, where people are in a rush to get it done and out there – an excuse to give yourself a deadline and see if you can do it.  Which is nice, as it can be better to formally treat it as a public challenge, especially for people who do it as amateurs.  Also like NaNoWriMo, some stuff is pretty piss-poor at the end, and in dire need of an editor… but hey, it’s out there, you did it, hopefully you’ll do it again, better next time.

It’s really fun reading other reviews too, seeing where people agreed, where they disagreed.  IF is often a case of ‘did it work for you or not’, moreso than written fiction, I think.  I remember rave reviews for Photograph, which Emily Short essentially reviewed during the 2002 Comp as ‘trying to do something interesting, but I can’t figure it out.’  It’s neat to be a part of that.

Incidentally, I’m not reviewing The Missing Piece, since I don’t think it’s interactive fiction.  I’m never sure why things like that are submitted.

This is a review of Trein, by Leena Kowser Ganguli, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game: Emily Short, Aric Maddox, Michael Martin, Merk, Jenni, Riff, and Lucy (includes other reviews).

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This is a review of Everybody Dies, written by Jim Munroe and illustrated by Michael Cho, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game: Emily Short, Gemma Bristow, Wesley Osam, Sarah Morayati, Stephen Bond, Merk, and Lucy (includes other reviews).

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This is a review of Red Moon, by Jonathan Hay, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game: Emily Short, Peter Nepstad (includes other reviews), Gemma Bristow, J. Robinson Wheeler, Sarah Morayati, Jenni, Riff, Imrihamun, Carl Muckenhoupt, and Dan Shiovitz (includes other reviews).

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This is a review of Buried in Shoes, by Kazuki Mishima, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game: Emily Short, Peter Nepstad (includes other reviews),
J. Robinson Wheeler, Sarah Morayati, Jenni, Riff, Lucy (includes other reviews), Dan Shovitz (includes other reviews).

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This is a review of Dracula’s Underground Crypt, by Alex Whitington, a z-code game entered in the 2008 Interactive Fiction Competition. Spoilers below.

Here are some other reviews of this game: Emily Short, Peter Nepstad (includes other reviews), Gemma Bristow, ralphmerridew, Jenni, Riff, and Lucy (includes other reviews).

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